Today House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) released the following statement on the Revenue Estimating Conference recent report on Iowa’s revenue:

“The Legislature cannot use this slight increase in revenue as an excuse to spend more taxpayer money. As we’ve learned over the past three years, excessive spending for short term goals is not the answer.

“House Republicans offered $290 million in savings this session and over $600 million in savings in the last two sessions. Spending less, saving more and enacting reasonable savings is the path House Republicans prefer.”

On Monday, March 8, the House Appropriations Committee approved:

• HSB 728 (Federal Block Grants),
• HSB 733 (Economic Development budget bill),
• HF 2502 (Pension bill) and
• SF 2366 (the second FY 2010 supplemental appropriations bill).

On Tuesday, the Committee approved:

• HSB 731 (Justice System budget bill),
• HSB 732 (Judicial branch budget bill) and
• HSB 733 (Ag and DNR budget bill).

These bills collectively appropriate $712 million for general fund expenditures. This is only 13 percent of the expected general fund appropriations for FY 2011.

Continue reading…

• Unemployment rate rose slightly in January despite new job creation: RADIO IOWA
• Senate Oks maid-rite cooking method: REGISTER
• Govt reorg signed into law: RADIO IOWA
• State web site breach tied for foreign attacker: REGISTER
• Report says Alzheimer’s a ‘significant threat’ to Iowa: RADIO IOWA
• Iowa part of settlement with Lifelock: RADIO IOWA
• Oversight panel sets hearings on school group: REGISTER
• 3 Iowa cities vying for Google Internet connection: QC TIMES
• Iowa, fed tax rules will not be coupled this year: QC TIMES
• Wellmark’s increases still concern Grassley: REGISTER
• Lawmakers debate film tax credit: QC TIMES
• Iowa House bans guns after domestic abuse convictions: QC TIMES
• Election ’10: Gov candidate Narcisse wins QC endorsement: QC TIMES
• Lawmakers honor Ferentz: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Candidate drops out of 1st district race: QC TIMES
• Grassley predicts big GOP gains: REGISTER
• Senate votes to toughen enforcement of government openness: GAZETTE
• Corbett seeks more state disaster aid: GAZETTE
• Cigarette sales drop in Iowa, but teens still at risk: WCF COURIER
• Shed light on why health insurance rates are soaring: REGISTER
• 2 year budget? Power shifts to governor: OBRADOVICH
• UI gets ready for flooding: SC JOURNAL

A new March 2010 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.

Caucus Newsletter March 10, 2010

Included in this edition:

• Budget bills begin moving
• Special deal given to teachers
• Health Care since 2007

• Governor signs puppy mills as first dog looks on: RADIO IOWA
• A late rush to sell some high-alcohol content beer: RADIO IOWA
• 17 Iowa river flows already at record highs for date: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Three GOP candidates for governor speak: RADIO IOWA
• Governor expects texting bill to be delivered: RADIO IOWA
• Transportation commission approves more money to fix potholes: RADIO IOWA
• Is Marshalltown Maid-Rite’s process safe or not?: QC TIMES
• Lawmakers tweaking bike safety measure: QC TIMES
• House amends amateur MMA bill: QC TIMES
• Some Iowa homebuilders see ‘a better year’ ahead: REGISTER
• Iowa Senate Oks MidAmerican rate increase for nuclear study: QC TIMES
• Santorum urges Iowa evangelicals to act: QC TIMES
• Iowa Department of Corrections still faces layoffs: QC TIMES
• Election ’10: Longest-serving woman in Iowa House to retire: QC TIMES
• Grassley: Justice Department needs to release lawyers’ names: QC TIMES
• Senators swiftly reject teens-only texting ban: REGISTER
• Legislature should respect free speech: REGISTER
• Property tax bills to rise in Cedar Rapids: GAZETTE
• Don’t target teens on texting, or anyone else: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Branstad willing to debate GOP opponents: GAZETTE
• Ames wants to be test site for fiber-optic network: GLOBEGAZETTE

From Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen:

The House Economic Growth Committee concluded its final committee meeting of the session by inviting Iowa businesses to testify on Iowa’s business climate. This idea was included in the House Republicans’ job creation plan rolled out last fall. The meeting marked the first time the Economic Growth committee engaged in an in-depth discussion with the private sector on the struggles facing Iowa businesses as they work to jumpstart the economy and create jobs.

Continue reading…

• School cuts mean higher property taxes: KGAN
• Wellmark premium increase delayed: RADIO IOWA
• Bill would consolidate aid program for child development: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Branstad proposes series of budget reforms: RADIO IOWA
• 30% of us aren’t saving for eventual retirement: REGISTER
• Teen texting now targeted: RADIO IOWA
• Group says legislators should close tax credit ‘loophole’: RADIO IOWA
• Move afoot to protect teacher pay: REGISTER
• Audit finds problems in DHS Medicaid verification process: RADIO IOWA
• Learning program has drawn fire: REGISTER
• Iowa Senate passes bar nuisance law: QC TIMES
• Sioux City seeing big turnover: REGISTER
• Disaster funds for Iowa more than $3.8 billion: QC TIMES
• State appoints new fire marshal: QC TIMES
• Brief break predicted for film incentives: REGISTER
• Grassley says better pay, incentives needed for primary care doctors: GAZETTE
• Districts should demand accountability: REGISTER
• Home schooling hits 30,000 in Iowa: WCF COURIER
• Pass Iowa flood protection bill: REGISTER
• Don’t confuse tea party with populism: REGISTER
• Make the common good a priority again: REGISTER

With great fanfare last week, the Office of Energy Independence (OEI) urged Iowans to consider upgrading their home appliances since the Federal government had provided the state with $2.6 million in stimulus funds for rebates. On Monday morning, Iowans responded. And now, many of them have questions about what happened.

Continue reading…

• Lawmakers get ready for the budget: QC TIMES
• Propane costs stir complaints: REGISTER
• Troubled school board association must be saved, education leaders say: REGISTER
• UI economist believes Iowa economy has bottomed out: RADIO IOWA
• Top Democrat says schools won’t get as much money as promised: RADIO IOWA
• AFSCME failed me, worker facing layoff at ISU says: REGISTER
• Energy research bill would let utility raise rates: REGISTER
• DNR delays water quality standards for nutrients in lakes: RADIO IOWA
• Harkin happy he’s not on the ballot: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Boswell to seek re-election: QC TIMES
• Regulation needed for Iowa fights, insiders say: REGISTER
• Iowa wind energy storage project moves ahead: QC TIMES
• Recession hits casinos too: REGISTER
• Pass Iowa flood protection bill: REGISTER
• Boom times rooted in disaster recovery money: GAZETTE
• Continue to improve Iowa Core Curriculum: REGISTER
• Election ’10: Story County Republican seeks state treasurer’s post: WCF COURIER

Health care reform solutions need not come from Washington, DC. In fact, the best reforms are often those developed closest to the people. Iowans do not need to wait for national politicians to act. Instead, they can join with Iowa Republicans in pursuit of a set of common sense Iowa Health Care Initiatives and solve Iowa problems with Iowa solutions.

Here is what Republicans will do if Iowa voters give us the opportunity.

Paitent’s Right to Know Act
Iowa Republicans propose legislation to establish a statewide information hub that brings together both cost and outcome quality data in a searchable format for online consumers. Cost and quality transparency will empower consumers to make better health care decisions in a way that maximizes quality while minimizing cost.

Continue reading for more proposals…